I had a chance to visit the place a few weeks ago after 2 and a half years on my recent trip to Pakistan. There are a few things that I observed over there, which I think everyone should know, and if possible go see for themselves. I thought I would share my experience.
I got there at around maghrib time, there was a complete sadness and gloomy ambiance around the mosque. Alongside the mosque was the site of the demolished Madrassah which was demolished soon after the operation. Although normalcy was there, you could see the occasional shop keepers wearing shalwar kameez going in for prayers but there was a very disturbing sadness looming in that place. You could look at the place and feel something really bad happened over there.The mosque, ofcourse was colored in white paint but everyone still refers to it as Laal Masjid, and always will, no matter what the Govt tries. After coming out of prayers, I saw the trees right outside the mosque and made another discovery that I heard from some reporters on TV. All the bullet marks on the trees seemed to be on the side not facing the mosque. It was pretty apparent that most of the fire came from outside, i.e. from the forces. There were some banners that were put up there demanding the new Govt to release Aziz and family and install him as the Imam again. One person over there saw me look at them upclose and told me that during the first few days people from the thaana (police station) would come and take off and confiscate the banners on a daily basis. There was also a successful attempt at changing the color of the mosque back to red on the first jummah after its reopening by the attendees.
Around the area, was an orthopedic that somoene with me had to see. He told me he and other shop keepers had to shut down and vacate the area for more than 2 weeks when the operation was going on. He also said that at first the area smelled really bad as there were no garbage disposal trucks that came and pretty much everyone had to dump their garbage on the roads and then vacate. There were also many chalkings around the area that said ‘Musharraf Kutta’, and its obvious that everyone around that region was sympathetic to the Lal Masjid fallen victims. The orthopedic too, a moderate and liberal person, after I told him what I saw clearly said that many female students died senselessly as it was a poorly conducted operation.
Lets us forget who was wrong or who was right at this instance, let us first admit that many innocent people lost their lives in this fire fight. I would urge everyone visiting Islamabad to go visit this site for themselves.
KA, I could have easily taken them, but I chose not to and did not go with the camera. There is no security or anything around it. The only places you see a huge blockade is around the aiwan-e-sadr and parliament, where they dont even let the motorists through unless you tell them you were there to goto NADRA or NIH.
Yeah but I wonder what they were doing there before the new Govt came in Aalsi, considering this operation ended so long ago? Also, have some sympathy for the innocent women and children that died rather than showing thumbs up.
Yeah but I wonder what they were doing there before the new Govt came in Aalsi, considering this operation ended so long ago? Also, have some sympathy for the innocent women and children that died rather than showing thumbs up.
Spock bhaijan. Pakistan has become the hub of global terrorism. Yes, indeed - my sympathies to any incocent people that were killed, whether in Israel, India, USA Pakistan, or anywhere in the world.
I am sure you would agree and back the Pakistani Army and the government in rooting the evil of terrorism that has engulfed the world is now emanating from Pakistan.
Spock bhaijan. Pakistan has become the hub of global terrorism. Yes, indeed - my sympathies to any incocent people that were killed, whether in Israel, India, USA Pakistan, or anywhere in the world.
I am sure you would agree and back the Pakistani Army and the government in rooting the evil of terrorism that has engulfed the world is now emanating from Pakistan.
Like I said before, this thread is not about global terrorism or great America or great Israel.
Unlike some, there are God fearing people left and they will always condemn the killings of unarmed women bearing Quran in a mosque, those that want to show thumbs up and celebrate, this thread isnt really for them. I am not even saying who started this mess, be it the people inside, Great US, or Great President, but what happened there is pretty sad. Just admit that, thats all I am saying.
I am not even saying who started this mess, be it the people inside, Great US, or Great President, but what happened there is pretty sad. Just admit that, thats all I am saying.
Spock Bhaijan, it is indeed sad if innocent people are killed anywhere.
Let's hope that terrorists in Pakistan and elsewhere do not continue to use Mosques as hiding place in the future. Wouldn't you agree that Mosques are places of worship, and not a hiding area for terrorists and their Armour as the Lal Masjid and many Madarsas in Pakistan have become.
I also request the mods to please clean up the thread to avoid the derailing, as it was not my intent to discuss great Israel, or Great Amreeka or terrorism.
Welcome back Spock, how's all going?
How did your trip go, I was in Isl recently too and visited the mosque at Asr time.
Thanks Haris, so what did you think of the visit, if you set aside the whole operation and the blame issue, dont you think you could feel something terrible happened over there the moment you see it?
Lal masjid is a sad place because those Islamists killed innocent law enforcement officers.
Who is going to bring back Lieutenant Colonel Haroon-ul-Islam, one of the most decorated solider. These Islamists have earned an eternal hell by killing innocent members of Pakistani army and rangers.
Tribal militants have no value. you can buy them a dozen a penny.
It is the sacrifices of Col. Islam that Pakistani cities have not turned into Islamic Emirates of Afghanistan, Lebanon, and the best of the best Somalia.
May Allah give sabar to the family and children of Col. Islam and other soliders.
Thanks Haris, so what did you think of the visit, if you set aside the whole operation and the blame issue, dont you think you could feel something terrible happened over there the moment you see it?
It sure was a strange feeling and more so because it was my first visit to the area and the mosque after the events of July 2007, and though I was there for a short time it was a sad and strange time. We met an off duty ANF official who lives just across the street and gave us detailed and graphic details of how things were in the area.
Lal masjid is a sad place because those Islamists killed innocent law enforcement officers.
Who is going to bring back Lieutenant Colonel Haroon-ul-Islam, one of the most decorated solider. These Islamists have earned an eternal hell by killing innocent members of Pakistani army and rangers.
Tribal militants have no value. you can buy them a dozen a penny.
It is the sacrifices of Col. Islam that Pakistani cities have not turned into Islamic Emirates of Afghanistan, Lebanon, and the best of the best Somalia.
May Allah give sabar to the family and children of Col. Islam and other soliders.
So the lives of the female students over there are meaningless compared to a soldier?
May Allah give sabar to the family and children of Col. Islam and other soliders.
Ameen. Suma Ameen. May Allah give sabar to the family and children of Col. Islam and other soliders, and the innocent people behind whom the terrorists took refuge in the mosque - a place of worship.
I passed by along the mosque on car while driving around in Islamabad. What strick me was the whole thing is so small, during the tv coverage it looked like a very big mosque with huge madrassa but it is quite a small place. The "nala" that was referred to as an important area from where lal mosque people could escape is very small too. One can just jump over it.
Second thing was the surrounding government building still had its windows smashed, wonder why its not been repaired.
Lets us forget who was wrong or who was right at this instance, let us first admit that many innocent people lost their lives in this fire fight. I would urge everyone visiting Islamabad to go visit this site for themselves.
Listen, you posted your whole story and then gave your own answer, what did you want to discuss in this thread about exactly?
